Accommodation

Hotel Port Mahon, 4-star

Hotel Port Mahon occupies an excellent position overlooking Mahon harbour. The hotel is located in a peaceful residential area above the marina and just 15 minutes’ walk from the historic city centre. The hotel is owned by Set Hotels, a small chain with hotels on Menorca and mainland Spain. Most of the staff speak good English and are very keen to ensure that our guests have an enjoyable stay.

Bedrooms

Hotel Port Mahon has 82 bedrooms in the main hotel building.

All bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom with shower or bath, hairdryer, telephone and satellite television.

The main public space at the Hotel Mahon is the piano bar on the ground floor which has lots of comfortable seating.

In the hotel grounds there is a good sized outdoor swimming pool and gardens.

The main reception desk is manned throughout the day and sells postcards and stamps, and you can book a hire car if you would like to explore the island on your free day. Internet access is also available in the reception area.

Hotel Port Mahon offers a four course evening meal and is served buffet style. First course conprises soups and salads, the main course has a variety of hot dishes, followed by a large dessert buffet. with a choice at each course. There is a good choice of vegetarian options. For guests who have special dietary requirements we suggest you tell our reservations team at the time of booking.

Drinks

The hotel has a well-stocked bar serving beer, wine, and spirits.

Lunches (payable locally)

It is possible to order picnic lunches from the hotel; these should be ordered the night before. Alternatively you may prefer to buy ingredients from one of the many shops and supermarkets in Mahon. On some days it may be possible to visit shops or eat in a local café during the day; your leaders will advise you of the options.

Enjoy a glass of wine or local beer before hearing about the next day's activities. On most evenings you will be able to take advantage of the hotel's entertainment programme. You may wish to take a stroll with your leader along the harbourfront and marina, where there is a number of cafés and bars, or even try a little flutter at the casino. Your leader will also be checking for any local events going on nearby. Alternatively you may like to relax on the terrace or in the bar with a drink and chat with your fellow guests

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. There is normally a good mix of ages, of new clients and 'regulars' from Britain and overseas, and of couples, friends and people travelling alone.

Itinerary

During your Discovery Tour you will have the opportunity to visit many fascinating places of interest. this is the proposed programme, but our HF Holidays' leader may adjust it at their discretion, taking into account factors such as weather or local opening times or the wishes of the group.

Mahón (Maó)Despite its status as island capital Maó (Mahón in Castilian) has a comfortable small-town feel and we will spend some time exploring its ancient centre on foot. We’ll see the beautiful hybrid architecture standing side-by-side with fragments of the old city walls and the occasional church.

CiutadellaWe spend a full day in Ciutadella, the second largest town on Menorca and formerly the island’s capital. The historic centre, a maze of narrow alleys and Moorish buildings, is clustered around its harbour. We’ll explore the town, learning more about the area as we go, and have some free time for further exploration and shopping in the afternoon.

Northeast coastMenorca’s northeast coast holds some of the island’s prettiest scenery. Our first stop is the village of Es Grau, set overlooking a horseshoe-shaped bay, from where we take a short stroll to admire the view. We then continue to Cap de Favàritx for dramatic views out over the coast before stopping at the pretty fishing village of Fornells for lunch and a visit to the Torre to Fornells, one of the many fortifications on the island. On the way home we will visit Monte Toro, the highest point on Menorca, before taking the Cami d’en Kane back to Mahon. The Cami d’en Kane was the first road built right across the island by Sir Richard Kane, the first governor of Menorca, in the 18th Century.

Central MenorcaNo visit to Menorca would be complete without seeking out some its ancient monuments. Today we visit Torre Llissa, a small site measuring only 12 meters in total, and Torralba d’en Salford, one of the island’s most extensive Talayotic settlements. We finish the day in Alaior, an old market town and the nucleus of the island’s dairy industry. We’ll explore the old centre and taste the internationally renowned Menorcan cheese (Queso de Menorca).

Southern CoastWe start the day inland in Ferreries, a modest little town with narrow sloping streets framed by ancient whitewashed houses before heading to Cala Galdana, for a short coastal walk along the Cami de Cavalls, the long-distance footpath that circumnavigates the island, to Cala Mitjana. In the afternoon we will visit the Talayotic settlement of Torre d’en Gaumés before ending the day in the coastal resort of Son Bou to see the extensive cave complex cut into the cliff-face and Menorca’s longest beach.

Holiday information

All transport (hired minibus, or local transport) is included in the price of your holiday, but for flexibility we do not include entrances (allow £25 per person).

Discovery Tour holidays involve active sightseeing and you should expect to spend lots of time on your feet. Optional short walks of approximately 2½ miles allow you to stretch your legs and see the best of the local scenery.

Free day – on our 7 night holidays we allow one free day where there is no organised excursion. This is an ideal opportunity for you to relax, enjoy the hotel facilities or explore independently.

Local area

An introduction to the area

In the summer months Menorca is a popular holiday destination; in spring and autumn it is much quieter and has a sleepy ambience. Most of the local population live in the five main towns of Mahon, the island's capital, Alaior, Es Mercasel, Ferreries and Cuitadella, which are all linked by one main road which runs from one end of the island to the other. Away from this central highway are peaceful traditional villages and a few modern tourist resorts.

Menorca is an ideal island for a week of exploration on foot; just 30 miles long and 12 miles at its widest point, its unspoilt coastline is the base for many of our walks. Menorca’s low-lying terrain makes for relaxing walking; its highest point is Monte Toro in the centre of the island which rises to a height of 1,175ft.

Menorca’s long and fascinating history dates back to prehistoric times and one of the highlights is to visit the extraordinary concentration of prehistoric monuments, standing stones and burial chambers. There are several hundred such sights on Menorca and we will visit some of the best examples.

Local Highlights

Mahon - Spend more time exploring this interesting town including a visit to the Mahon museum (this beautifully restored building is home to many artefacts discovered on the island throughout its history and tells the history of Menorca from ancient times) and the La Mola fortress, also known as Isabel II, in honour of the queen who ordered its construction in the 19th century during the Spanish dominion.

Ciutadella - described as dignified, aristocratic, ancient, secretive and deliciously Mediterranean – Ciutadella is an historic showpiece which has failed to be ruined by the 20th century. Like Mahón, it was originally named by the Carthaginians, who called it Jamma. It was the original capital of Menorca until the British changed the capital to Mahón in the 18th century. However the Bishop refused to move and consequently Ciutadella still remains the religious capital of Menorca.

Shops & facilities:

There are plenty of shops, banks, bars and cafés in Mahon, with the market on Tuesday in the old convent. There is a very good SPAR shop close to the hotel selling a good selection of packed lunch ingredients. There is also an excellent bakery, a mini-market and a newspaper shop close to the hotel.

Travel

We recognise that everyone’s travel arrangements are unique, so all our holidays to Europe can be booked ‘with flight’ or ‘without flight’, giving you more flexibility and choice.

‘With flight’ holidays – the hassle-free option

Book your holiday ‘with flight’ and choose between Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham flights to Mahon airport.

If you choose this option we automatically include return transfers between the airport and the hotel.

The coach transfer takes approx 15 minutes to the Hotel Port Mahon.

For flight times and prices please see the Dates & Prices tab.

‘Without flight’ holidays – the flexible travel option

Alternatively, tailor your journey to suit you by booking your holiday ‘without flight’ allowing you the freedom to book your own flights from your local airport.

If you choose this option, transfers are not included in the price. However, below are some suggestions to help you reach your destination:

- We can book you a seat on the HF Holidays’ transfer coach from Mahon airport.

This is timed to meet the HF Holidays’ flights* (provisional flight times can be found on the dates and prices tab or you can call us on 020 8732 1220 for more information). Cost per single journey is £10.00.

- Why not let us book you a privatetaxi transfer at a cost of £25.00 per single taxi journey?

Transfers must be pre-booked. Please call 020 8732 1220 for more details

* Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance.

Leaders

Rob Dightam - Menorca

Rob studied geography and town planning which has given him a lifetime interest in people and places. He has spent time in Menorca leading walking holidays and visiting archaeological and historic sites, areas of natural beauty and towns and villages, and sampling the local cuisine! Rob looks forward to sharing his knowledge of the amazing diversity of Menorca which makes it such a wonderful island to visit. Its relatively small size means that all parts can be reached in a relatively short time providing ample opportunity to discover places of interest.

Information

Double room for sole occupancy: £17 per night

Authorities in the Balearic Islands of Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca have introduced a Sustainable Tourism Tax on tourists visiting the islands which the government will use to help preserve their natural beauty and cultural heritage. As a result, a charge of €1.65 per person, per night, on all overnight stays in 4-star tourist accommodation has now come into force and will be applicable to your stay. It will need to be paid directly at your hotel and we would advise our customers to be prepared to pay upon arrival, although the hotel may allow you to add this to the final room bill.